Farmers to receive subsidized fertilizer from next month in preparation for short season rains

The Kenyan government through the ministry of agriculture has said farmers will start receiving subsidized fertilizer next month at Sh1800 per 50kg bag in preparation for the short season rains set for October to December.

Earlier this year in March, the ministry of agriculture flagged of fertilizer to the high production areas of Uasin Gishu, Nandi, and Trans Nzoia among other counties with a 50kg bag retailing at Sh1600 recommended by the National Cereals and Produce Board.

In this, Uasin Gishu County was allocated 362,000 bags against a demand of more than one million bags. Trans Nzoia was allocated 193,000 bags out of 400,000 bags needed by farmers in the region. Nandi County received 59,000 bags against a demand of about 200,000 bags of the subsidized fertilizer.

More than 30,000 bags of the fertilizer is delivered to Eldoret’s National Cereals and Produce Board daily but farmers scramble for it due to inadequate supply.

Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties combined produce over 40 per cent of Kenya’s total maize production and are thus considered the country’s grain baskets.

Farmers in the North Rift started planting their crops in early march at the onset of the long rains with statistics indicating that more than 80 per cent of Kenyan farmers depend on rains to plant their crops.

According to the ministry of agriculture, Kenya consumes at least three million bags of maize monthly with 70 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture.

The ministry projects an increase in maize production this year from 35.2m bags recorded last year to 46m, 90kg bags.